A good deed

My friend Kristen helped people move Saturday. It was her day off from two jobs and she spent it behind the wheel of a U-Haul and unloading furniture and boxes from morning until late night. She happened to phone me as she was gassing up the truck to return it with the tank full, and I congratulated her on her good deed.

We don't hear much about doing "good deeds" these days, except in ironic or mildly mocking speech, as in: "I did my good deed for the day," or, "Did you do your good deed for the day?" The culture has debased the concept to its lowest level. When I was a kid, there was still a lingering seriousness about the admonition to "do a good deed." There was some echo of a biblical principle that had not yet been entirely snuffed out. But by the present generation, the phrase has experienced a total detachment from spirituality.

I notice that Paul put a great emphasis on good-deed-doing in his letters. He's all over it in his brief correspondence with Titus:

"… a people of his own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14).

"… I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people" (Titus 3:8).

"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works …" (Titus 3:14).

It is odd that we have reached a point in society where we are embarrassed to talk about the doing of good deeds in a serious manner. It is odd that now and then someone has to say, "Dear Kristen, never be ashamed of doing a good deed."